Jayson Werth, the antihero trying to win over Washington, insists he does not think about his first season with the Washington Nationals. "Last year's over," he said. When he stepped into the batter's box Nationals Park after 11 p.m. on Friday night, the bases loaded and one out in the 13th inning, he had an opportunity to win the game and to convince the rest of the world this is a new year.

A few minutes later, Werth jogged down the first base line and tossed his black bat to the ground. His game-winning single had lifted the Nationals to a 2-1, 13-inning victory over the Cincinnati Reds, their fourth straight win and second straight walk-off in extra innings.

Their dearth of offense does not bode well for their future success, their rotation's win-loss record or the heart condition of their fans. But it did not prevent them from sending what remained of the 26,959 at Nationals Park home celebrating another dramatic victory, which improved them to 6-2. The Nationals remained in first place in the National League East, and they did it on Werth's first walk-off RBI with Washington.

"You want to be a part of those," said Werth, who has started this season 10 for 33 with four walks, swinging with more conviction and, by all accounts, finding more comfort with the team. "That's what you play for. So hopefully that'll be the first of many."